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Demolish Carlisle's old Lonsdale Cinema says would-be council leader

The former Lonsdale Cinema in Carlisle will have to be demolished, says the man bidding to become leader of the city council.

Joe Hendry, left and Ian Brogden, online editor, Cumbrian Newspapers

Dr Joe Hendry, leader of the council’s opposition Labour group, was questioned about the Lonsdale’s future in a election web chat yesterday.

He concluded that it will have to come down.

He said: “I have examined the building internally recently. I am very sorry to say that it is a wreck.

“I think it is beyond saving.

“If we want to have a five-star hotel in the [former] Post Office building next door, the Lonsdale wreck has to be removed. I hate saying this but it is realistic.”

Campaigners had called for the art-deco Lonsdale, in Warwick Road, to be converted into a theatre/arts centre. But a fire in 2010 and general deterioration since its closure in 2006 appear to have dashed those hopes.

Dr Hendry faced questions on councillors’ allowances and expenses, and whether he would support proposals to reduce the number of councillors to save money. He said: “I agree there are too many councillors.

“I also think there are too many councils [in Cumbria].

“I would hope that in future we have one local authority for the whole of north west Cumbria and each ward had one councillor.”

He repeated Labour’s pledge to freeze council tax in 2013.

And he promised to look into the feasibility of building a 50-metre Olympic-sized swimming pool to replace The Pools in James Street.

The council’s current plan is to build a 25-metre pool at The Sands Centre.

Have your say

where in carlisle can the over 50 go for a night out we have got a theatre in carlisle needs restoring but i am sure if they can spend millions on the sands millions on restoring the town hall they could restore the theatre and some where to eat inside instead of us all going to newcastle to watch shows there we could have them in our own theatre makes sense .

Posted by mrs a graham on
2 February 2013 at 18:48

no the lonsdale does not need to be pill down it needs money spent on it like the new pools and art centre how many million is been used carlisle needs a threatre there is one there which when restored will bring lots of trade to carlisle some where for the over 50 to go it could be a wonder full place its like carlisle airport now what is the next exuse to de lay it carlisle has nothing .